v’s Larne, A
The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV produced their best performance of the season
so far to overwhelm Larne in the local derby at the Glynn on Saturday 22 September.
Playing intelligently in the first half to negate any advantage Larne might have
had with the wind at their backs, Carrick then produced a superb second half performance,
running in five tries to the home side's one, to win by 34 points to 8.
As in the corresponding fixture last year, Carrick's success lay in having a game
plan and executing it very well. They kept the ball in hand into the stiffish breeze
in the first half and turned round with the score at 3 points apiece. Carrick then
totally dominated territory and possession in the second half, with a combination
of intelligent kicking and strong running. There were good performances in all departments
for Carrick but the back row laid the foundations for victory by dominating Larne
at the break-down and carrying the ball strongly when required to do so. Captain,
Paul McIlrath, was outstanding at No 8, breaking the gain line on numerous occasions
and setting up one of the tries with a run of which any of the backs would have been
proud! His breakaway partners, Clive Rankin and Ian McNeill, also contributed both
in ball winning and in attack. The scrum was again solid and Terry McCracken and
Andy Kincaid supplied good quality line-out possession as well as making life difficult
for Larne on their throw.Both locks, in particular Kincaid, also carried well. Behind
the scrum, Glen Picken, in his first match back after a year away, was another to
have an outstanding game, kicking well from the base of the set piece, keeping the
Larne back-row tied in with his darting runs and helping himself to two of the Carrick
tries. Karl Wilkinson's kicking also contributed significantly to Carrick's territorial
dominance in the second half. Right winger Daryl Crothers, playing his first game
for the 1st XV, put in some superb tackles. Indeed, the Carrick defence, both in
mid-field and out wide, was excellent all afternoon and it was good to see Trevor
McDowell back in action in the centre.
In the early stages, with a fairly strong breeze at the backs of the Larne players,
Carrick had to do some defending and kept the home side out only courtesy of a try-saving
tackle by Trevor McDowell. During this period, Crothers also had to put in some solid
tackles. With their line-out under pressure early on, Larne were finding it difficult
to take advantage of the wind and it was Carrick who took the lead in the twelfth
minute when Karl Wilkinson converted a penalty. This was earned following powerful
surges by Andy Kincaid and prop David McKeen. The half continued with Larne trying
to gain territory with the boot and mount attacks from the Carrick half but the visitors
were successful in both defending their line and making ground with ball in hand.
Larne did get on even terms with a penalty after thirty-five minutes but lost a promising
attacking position on the stroke of half-time when Carrick stole their line-out throw
and Kincaid and McIlrath drove strongly up-field.
Carrick's intention of putting Larne under pressure with kicks, and to play the game
in their territory, was clear from the start of the second half. A kick to the corner
early in the half forced Larne to try to run back but Carrick won the ball at the
break-down and mounted an attack, with McDowell and McIlrath prominent, from which
they were awarded a penalty. Scrum-half Glen Picken quickly took the tap and went
over. The conversion attempt was missed. The visitors went further ahead after ten
minutes when Paul Saberton went over in the left-hand corner following an initial
break by hooker Richard Higgins, quick ruck ball and slick handling by the Carrick
mid-field. Karl Wilkinson put over an excellent conversion kick from the touch-line
to take Carrick into a 15 points to 3 lead. The visitors continued to dominate and
went ffurther ahead five minutes later when an excellent kick by Wilkinson forced
Larne to scramble to touch in their own 22; from the line-out, good work by Ian McNeill
set Andy Kincaid up with the opportunity to set off on a charge to the line and the
second row burst through a number of attempted tackles to go over. Karl Wilkinson
again added the points. >From the kick-off, the ball was kicked back into the Larne
22 where their defence knocked on. From the resulting scrum, Carrick moved the ball
across their backs and won quick ruck ball which enabled Glen Picken to race down
the blind-side to score in the corner. This try was not converted. Three minutes
later, Carrick completed their scoring when a defensive kick by Larne failed to find
touch and was run back by McIlrath who, with an outrageous dummy, broke the home
side's defensive line , made thirty metres and then passed to the slightly faster(!)
Johnny Sheriff who went over for the try. Karl Wilkinson converted from a difficult
angle. Carrick continued to dominate territory until the closing stages, and were
unfortunate to be pulled back for a forward pass when another McIlrath carry seemed
likely to put Saberton in the clear. Larne, who never stopped battling, finally had
a period of sustained pressure near the end of the game and were rewarded with a
try following a tap penalty close to the Carrick line. The conversion attempt failed
and the game ended a couple of minutes later with Carrick deserved winners by 34
points to 8.
While it is always good to win local bragging rights in a derby fixture, it is the
manner of the victory which will have pleased Carrick coach Billy Montgomery. He
sent the team onto the field with a clear game plan which they stuck to and put into
practice very well. This will send Carrick into the fixture with Ballyclare (at Woodlawn)
next Saturday in a confident frame of mind.
The Carrick team against Larne was:
P.Saberton; D. Crothers, T. McDowell, W. Anderson, J. Sheriff; K.Wilkinson, G. Picken;
D. McKeen, R. Higgins, P. Greenaway, T. McCracken, A. Kincaid, C.Rankin, I. McNeill,
P. McIlrath(Capt).
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